Riverfire 2014!!

Once again we were treated to a sensational event, as fireworks and military jets took over our beautiful city!  In September each year Brisbane hosts a Festival, a mostly cultural event spread over 2-3 weeks, with attractions around the city, in theatres, at Southbank and across the city, which closes with Riverfire.

Riverfire kicks off at around 3:30pm, with an RAAF fly past. In recent years we have welcomed Super Hornet's and this year they excelled themselves!  Our best show ever and we were treated to three separate fly pasts in all!  

WOW! Thank you!

My friend took some of the best shots, I especially like how she captured the view of the team in the cockpit! Love it!

Between flypasts Black Hawk helicopters and surf life savers keep us entertained as we await the main event ...

At 7:04pm we were rewarded for our patience with a final flypast by the Super Hornet's, breathtaking and followed by a 30 minute firework spectacular. 

We are very fortunate, for the last 5 years we have viewed Riverfire without leaving our apartment. We live in an apartment at Kangaroo Point and we are just so lucky to have ring side seats for a spectacular pyrotechnics display and big thanks to the RAAF, military jets and helicopters!

While I am not an expert photographer, I am happy to share a couple of my amateur snaps:

This year was one of the best fly pasts, but some of us still have a touch of nostalgia when we think of our old favourite - F111's who flew in low over the city for a unique dump and burn!!  Here is a good video from Riverfire past ...

... and this is a personal favourite pic from Riverfire 2014!

The Hunter Valley, Pokolbin and Thistle Hill

 rosé by the fire

Thistle Hill, Reception

... and so we found our way to our lodgings for the next few nights, Thistle Hill, Pokolbin. Our host Carol was delightful and it was soon obvious why Thistle Hill is the #1 rated B&B in the area!

Lazy days and wine tasting tours followed, the promise of a long day and a degustation menu didn't pan out as promised but our tour with James' Hunter Valley Wine and Vineyard Tours was exceptional! Good value, great fun, a small group of 10! Lots of laughter and more wine than is good for you I'm sure!

One winery offered us more than 20 tastings but helped us limp through to lunch with a generous serve of cheese and crackers! Can't imagine why we needed food after a mouth watering home-baked breakfast including (yes honestly!) fresh scones with jam and cream, devoured earlier!

Breakfast Room

We picked out a few favourites along the way, not least a delicious Shiraz liqueur from Ballabourneen tasted and purchased as we listened to the highly amusing chatter of our host and a Chardy from Audrey Wilkinson that really hit the spot!

Our stop at one winery saw us filmed to be featured on a popular TV show, but given it was the last stop after a full day, I won't be seeking out that video!!!

Hidden Gems

We found a few hidden gems, Blaxlands Inn deserved a second visit, you can't go past their deep dish pies, but our favourite find of the winery week was Cockfighter's Ghost and their gold award winning Pinot Gris and their chardy is pretty good too!!  Thank goodness for the Internet, the cellar door is never far away!

Thistle Hill, Guest Lounge

Our wine tour group included a couple of honeymooners who had celebrated their wedding on Segways in Coff's Harbour just the weekend before! Sounded like a blast and different for sure!

Yes, we tasted every one!  And more!

A horse and carriage, outside Blaxlands Inn, Hunter Valley

Outside our room at Thistle Hill

It's been a few years since we last went to the Hunter and it is fair to say, it has improved with age! The people are friendly, the wine is exceptional, the food is mouth watering and the air is fresh! I'll be back and we won't leave it so long next time!

Flying Machines and the Hunter Valley

Time for some time-out and an interesting camera effect on our journey down to the Hunter Valley on our little Qantas Link prop plan - a Bombardier Dash 8-300.

A more relaxed flying experience than usual, lower flying at 22,000 feet enhancing the views over the Gold Coast as we flew South, destination the Hunter Valley wine region. Although not the quietest flight ever - my ears buzzed for days, a beautiful flying day, brilliant blue skies as we flew past the beautiful rugged coastline of New South Wales to land in Newcastle. Recording the prop through the window on my camera made for some fascinating and entertaining viewing.

There is no sense from up here how potentially hostile it can be on the ground.  Outback Australia famous for its dangerous snakes, spiders, extreme temperatures and dry, arid red dirt.

I'm no expert, far from it and it is a mindset to which every migrant, inbound to Australia must adapt. I am sure Aussie kids are brought up to just be naturally careful, otherwise surely they wouldn't survive the weekend. 

If you leave your shoes on the deck overnight, don't forget to bang them out before putting them on! If in a cafe, don't be surprised to look up and see a snake coiled amongst the rafters, keeping warm! Watch out for possum's in the trees in early evening, even in the city, see the flocks of bats with more than a metre long wingspan head in at dusk in mango season and just occasionally, pause the car while a koala labours its own sweet way across the road in front of you, apparently without a care in the world.

Don't get me wrong, all this doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, it is more typically a sense of awe and wonderment than fear that pervades, even after 16 years of living here I am not entirely sure I shall ever quite get used to it, I hope I never take it for granted.

Out and About in Brisbane....

Sometimes, we forget that where we live can be worth exploring too!  Here's Brisbane!

Brisbane skyline viewed from Mt Coot-tha Lookout

Southbank, Brisbane, Qld

Bougainvillea-covered Arbour, Southbank, Brisbane

The Wheel of Brisbane

Enjoy Southbank Parklands, on the banks of the Brisbane River, spread over 17 hectares, a corner of paradise directly opposite the city, complete with a man made beach and always sunny!

Wander through the pretty kilometre long bougainvillaea covered arbour or hop on the Wheel of Brisbane for a bird's eye view or or stop by the Nepalese Peace Pagoda for some quiet time.

Be there on the 1st Sunday of every month if you just love soaking up the atmosphere of local craft markets!

Nepalese Peace Pagoda, Southbank, Brisbane

Cockatoos in the trees

Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Southbank, Brisbane

Maybe after a visit to one of our art galleries or the Queensland State Library, you can reserve your seat at one of QPAC's four venues to catch a concert or a Theatre show!  So lucky to have major events here, Disney's Lion King and Wicked to name but too, from ballet to Classic concerts, get in quick, tickets sell out fast!

The Ship Inn, Queensland Pub

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Cuddle a Koala, over 130 to choose from @ Lone Pine

Jump on a river cruise to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, a great place to meet and cuddle and hand feed some of the locals!  Cute!

Kangaroos bask and laze in the sun

Southbank

Delicious Cuisine at Obsession, Southbank

Paddle up the Brisbane River

Ella's Pink Lady, Jessica Watson's round the world yacht, some say foolish, some say brave, either way, she's famous and her tiny boat now lies in the Queensland Maritime Museum, Brisbane while Jessica appears to have  taken a step back from publicity

Kangaroo Point

Take a ride on our little red tourist ferry, it's free!

Check out our spectacular fig trees along the river walkways

As you stroll along the banks of the Brisbane river, watch or learn to rock climb at Kangaroo Point Cliffs

Rock Climbing @ Kangaroo Point Cliffs

Watch the sun go down from Kangaroo Point

Sunset, Brisbane

Watch the sun go down from Kangaroo Point before ending the day with dinner at the Story Bridge Hotel and if you didn't manage to climb it, then don't miss out a chance to check out our bridge of many colours - The Story Bridge

Sunset, over Brisbane, viewed from Kangaroo Point

Th Brisbane Wheel after dark, Southbank

A Traveller's Tale of Great Customer Service @ The Fairmont, Banff Springs!!

Once upon a time, we stayed at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, in Banff, Alberta, Canada!

Our experience was spectacular!!

On arrival we were offered a complimentary upgrade to a Mountain View Suite, an exclusive 'Club Room'. Keith did his best to decline, however a swift kick in the shins soon put that right.

There is much to tell of our trip but before I get into that, I just have to share my favourite, most memorable customer service travel tale ever.

Our free upgrade included valet parking, "not likely" said Keith, "I hate valet parking!"  On eyeing the long walk [uphill] to the car park, the gently fluttering October snow and -5C (23F) temps, we soon put that right and so he reluctantly handed over the keys of our very basic little saloon rental, to the pimply faced youth, obviously on a working holiday, posing as a valet before heading to college!

View from our room ...

All went well until day 3, we woke early, ready for the 4-hour drive to Jasper, ate a hearty breakfast and then it happened!

Keith was right!! Some might say, a momentous occasion in its own right!!

"I'm sorry Sir, there seems to be a problem, our valet has taken your car keys home and we have been unable to contact him"!

"Yes dear, you did say, no dear, I didn't think that would happen, no its OK, we can go to Jasper another day, yes dear, you were right, now take a moment."

Well obviously, we were disappointed and after an hour or two of futile attempts to wake or contact a sleepy valet, we were offered a replacement rental car ...

Our Ford Mustang rental!

"erm... ok, maybe, what with?"

 "Would a Ford Mustang be adequate Sir?  Of course, we insist you keep it for the remaining three weeks of your holiday, at our expense obviously"

Cheers Fairmont!

Dinner and drinks that night?  Complimentary!! To apologise for any inconvenience, as was dinner on our final night a few days later!

... and so why is this story so shareable? Did the penny drop yet?  Remember, our complimentary, zero cost upgrade to a Club Room?  Came with a free valet service? Now that's what I call customer service!

I have never been so happy that Keith was right!!!

Thank you Fairmont Banff Springs, our stay was out of this world, we loved the hotel, the staff were so helpful, our room perfect and if we make it to Banff again, you will be our first choice and may our next stay be as memorable!  We never hesitate to recommend you!!

Picturesque and eye-catching, Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

... set amidst breathtaking scenery ...